You can notice the stretched doors and the longer wheelbase on the Bentley Bentayga LWB quite clearly
by Sidd Dhimaan, onThe Bentley Bentayga is one of the most luxurious and opulent SUVs that money can buy you today. While it is a sufficiently big vehicle with a decently long wheelbase, there is a demand for a more spacious Bentayga in certain markets. We can attest to this because a long-wheelbase version of the Bentayga has been spied winter testing in Sweden.
A Long Wheelbase Bentayga Will Be Even Plusher
Long wheelbase versions of luxurious vehicles are somewhat a niche in markets like China and the Middle East. There is a demand for vehicles with extra legroom in certain markets, and the demand is strong enough for automakers to produce them in the factory instead of telling customers to get it done aftermarket.
Hushed talks of the long-wheelbase version of the Bentley Bentayga have been doing rounds for a long time now. Unless the company is introducing some specific features for this (perhaps, making it even more luxurious) or it hit a snafu, the long-wheelbase version should’ve been out by now. At least the testing is resumed, so we are hoping it will debut in 2022.
We don’t expect a lot of exterior changes, but on the inside, yes, there could be quite a few. The Bentayga LWB could be offered in the same seating layouts as the standard model – four-, five- and seven. The seven-seater model could benefit from more legroom for the third-row passengers. But, the emphasis will be on the two-row models. Expect lounge-like seating to be the highlight of the Bentayga LWB with more opulence, tech features, and some sort of foldable work desks or something on those lines.
Are There Any Differences On The Outside?
There’s no word on the exact measurements, but as we speculated before, we expect the wheelbase to be around 126 inches. This will make it 8.2 inches longer than the standard Bentayga’s 117.8-inch long wheelbase. You can see ‘Beyond 100’ graphics on the prototype here. ‘Beyond 100’ was a strategy that Bentley came up with back in 2020 wherein the automaker plans to become a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility. The doors also seem stretched, which is a given for a stretched vehicle.
What Will Power The Bentley Bentayga LWB?
If we go solely by the ‘Beyond 100’ graphics, then the Bentayga LWB will be based on the Bentayga Hybrid. This is a long shot, but of the four Bentayga models on offer – Speed, S, V-8, and Hybrid – the Hybrid option resonates with the graphics the most. The Bentayga Hybrid is powered by a 3.0-liter, V-6 engine and an electric motor complementing it. The engine puts out 335 horses and 332 pound-feet of torque and the electric motor makes 126 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque. Combined, the drivetrain dishes out 443 ponies and 516 pound-feet of twist.
At the onset, it seems enough power to lug the beast, but on paper, a V-6 engine powering in what would be the flagship Bentayga, in all likelihood, doesn’t dwell well. Perhaps, the company could come up with a hybrid version of the V-8 mill. A W-12 from the Speed is the best the automaker from Crewe has to offer, but it doesn’t warrant a need in an LWB model that’s primarily going to be a chauffeur-driven SUV. On the flip side, however, the most expensive Bentayga (which it surely will be) needs to have the best engine that Bentley offers. We’ll have to wait and watch what Bentley powers the Bentayga long-wheelbase model with.
Final Thoughts
The Bentley Bentayga long wheelbase has been in the reckoning for a long time now. It should’ve been out by now, but unfortunately, we’re still seeing test mules being tested in various conditions. But, that said, you can expect a debut sometime in 2022. We’re not sure if the model will make it to this side of the ocean, but one can hope.
What are your thoughts on the Bentley Bentayga long-wheelbase model? Share them with us in the comments section.
